Academic Contract Workers at Brock University
Register to attend the online Special GMM February 24 at 6pm. There will be an election to fill the vacancy for VP of Unit 1 until elections are held for executive positions. If you are interested in running for the position please reach out to via email, and for a detailed description of the job, see the Union Bylaws on the Resource tab of this website. We will also acknowledge and discuss the new, Unit 5.
CUPE is hosting some great events to honour Black History Month and are honouring Marjorie Villefranche, a community leader in Montreal’s Haitian community. To learn more click here. Brock is also offering an amazing line up of activities and educational experiences! Every department is involved. Cooking class, movie nights, Learning a Language, Carnival Workshops are all happening after reading week. See the List here in Brock’s interative calendar HERE. You can also sign up at ExperienceBU. Enjoy all these great experiences and get out and meet some new friends.
Come out to our ongoing Pizza Session. We are hosting Pizza in PL 410 this Monday Feb 13th from 11am to 1:50pm. Come and talk about your labour and help us fully understand all your concerns for this bargaining year. Come for a friendly chat and learn more about the union and come from some drinks and snacks! Hope to see everyone there!
Come out to our ongoing Coffee Session. We are hosting coffee and treats in the union office this Monday Feb 3rd from 11am to 2pm. Come and talk about your labour and help us fully understand all your concerns for this bargaining year. Come for a friendly chat and learn more about the union and come from some drinks and snacks. Hope to see everyone there!
Our first night was so well attended we decided to do it again! Come and join us for food, friends and fun as we play Jack Box and all sorts of board games, both traditional and new. Please reach out to request any games from Outreach Officer Dan here
Come and join our ongoing discussion of union issues and have some lunch with fellow union members. Jan 30th from 11 to 2pm in Plaza 410
January 15, 2025
As you probably know, the support staff at Brock (OSSTF 35) have been bargaining for a fair contract. Thus far, Brock has not offered fair compensation for the important work that OSSTF members do. OSSTF and Brock are still bargaining. That being said, OSSTF is in a legal position to go on strike as of Thursday.
If there is a strike, here is how you support OSSTF:
1. Join a picket line!
Picket lines would be set up at the three entrances to Brock University.
2. Don’t do any work that is OSSTF administrative work!
3. Contact Senior Leadership and the Board of Trustees
and demand that OSSTF be treated fairly.
Dr. Lesley Rigg (President of Brock University) – lrigg@brocku.ca
Josh Tonnos (Chief Financial Officer) – jtonnos@brocku.ca
(905) 688 – 5550 x6133
Mark Arthur (Chair, Brock Board of Trustees) – info@forstrong.com
linkedin.com/in/mark-arthur-a0280832
In Solidarity,
Phil Wachel, CUPE 4207 President
CUPE 229,254 & 1302 have filed for job action. Below is an article about their struggles and well worth a moment of your time. We are all in this together. https://cupe.on.ca/workers-set-strike-deadline-at-queens-university/
KINGSTON, ON – Five groups of workers at Queen’s University today put their employer on notice of a strike deadline after talks failed to provide an agreement that addresses concerns including the cost-of-living crisis, understaffing and job stability.
The workers are members of five bargaining units in CUPE locals 229, 254 and 1302 – approximately 1000 workers including foodservices, library workers, tradespeople, classroom and laboratory technicians, and custodians and caretakers. Today all five units filed with the Ontario Labour Relations Board, which makes job action possible as of Monday, February 3.
“It’s frustrating that it has come to this – we have been waiting for Aramark to bargain a solution to the cost-of-living and staffing crisis at the university since April,” said James Adams-Moore, a prep cook and vice-president of CUPE 229. “My co-workers are taking second jobs just to scrape by on what Aramark foodservices pay at Queen’s. It’s stressful. It negatively affects the workplace, but also home life. It takes away time that should be spent with our kids on homework or, heaven forbid, enjoying life a little.”
Waged workers at the university have seen their pay drop 11-15 percent below inflation in recent years. At the same time, senior university administrators and others making more than $100,000 a year took home an average of 8.9 percent more last year alone.
Thus far, the university’s wage offers to its CUPE workers have been far short of what’s needed to address the decline in real wages. Aramark, which is contracted by Queen’s to run food and conference services, has yet to make a wage offer.
“There’s a real imbalance. It’s hard to attract and retain qualified people, and that’s only adding to a workload problem seen across many departments. Something’s wrong here. The workers know it, the students are picking up on it. It’s time for the administration to do the right thing,” said Kim Bell, a special collections coordinator and president of CUPE 1302, representing library technicians at the university.
All three CUPE locals are members of the Unity Council of labour groups at Queen’s, which includes members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and United Steelworkers (USW), who are also currently in bargaining with the university. The almost 5000 workers represented by the unions are calling on the university and Aramark to negotiate real solutions to improve the workplace, services for students and the lives of its workers.
Come out to our bi-weekly get together. All members are welcomed. As we go into a bargaining year, we bet you have some questions. We want to help answer them and want you to help the executive know your concerns about our labour. Come share lunch with members of the union. Thursday 11-2 in Plaza 410. See schedule on the poster below.
